Roberta Flack (88), has passed away

American singer and pianist Roberta Flack, known for the hit ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’, has died at the age of 88. Her management announced her death on February 24, 2025.

Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born on February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She grew up in a musical family and developed a passion for music at a young age. At the age of 15, she received a music scholarship to Howard University, where she studied classical piano.

Her breakthrough came in the early 1970s with the song ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, which was used in Clint Eastwood’s film ‘Play Misty for Me’. This earned her a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1973. A year later, she won the same award for ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’, making her the first artist to receive this award in consecutive years.

In addition to her solo career, Flack collaborated with artists such as Donny Hathaway, with whom she scored hits such as “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.” Her musical style combined elements of soul, jazz, and folk, which set her apart in the music industry.

In 2022, Flack was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which left her unable to sing. Despite this, her musical legacy lives on, inspiring generations of artists and fans worldwide.